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01
Mar
MPs Watch: Trans hate crimes, HS2 money and defence spending
Every month, the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.
In February, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced international aid spending will fall from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income to fund an increase in defence spending.
North Yorkshire Council also approved a 4.99% increase in council tax.
Here’s what we discovered after analysing our MPs’ online presence.
Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat – Harrogate and Knaresborough
What did he do in Parliament?
Mr Gordon voted eight times in Parliament this month.
Three of those votes were on the Crown Estate Bill [Lords], which went to the report stage on February 24.
Mr Gordon voted in favour of the second reading of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, and voted against the second reading of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill.
On February 6, the MP asked the Solicitor General what steps she is taking to help ensure the effective prosecution of people who commit hate crimes. He asked her outline what is being done to ensure transgender people in particular feel safe.
Mr Gordon also asked Dame Diana Johnson, the Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention Minister, what she is doing to encourage North Yorkshire Police and other forces to work with communities and businesses to “crack down” on shoplifting.
What did he do in his constituency?
On February 15, Mr Gordon visited the Burton Leonard Women’s Institute to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
He announced he is set to run both London Marathon and Paris Marathon in aid of two Harrogate charities, though he had not decided which charities to support at the time.
Mr Gordon also visited Mind in Harrogate District on February 28.
What else?
A keen runner, Mr Gordon posted twice about completing a local Parkrun – the first of which was followed by coffee at The Saints in Harrogate.
He attended The Fostering Network’s parliamentary event, and asked the Transport Secretary when the North would see the money promised after HS2’s northern leg was scrapped.
Mr Gordon, who highlighted some of his February engagements when contacted by the Stray Ferret, also took on the role as chair of the all-party parliamentary group for diabetes.
Sir Alec Shelbrooke
Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative – Wetherby and Easingwold
What did he do in Parliament?
Sir Alec voted five times in Parliament in February.
He voted in favour of a reasoned amendment to the second reading of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, but voted against the second reading of the same bill.
Sir Alec voted in favour of clauses four and six of the Crown Estate Bill [Lords] at report stage.
The MP spoke during a debate on inheritance tax relief for farms, asking:
Does my hon. Friend share my concern that, with the Government showing their inability to crack a good deal when they go into negotiations, they may well give in on any potential trade deal with America and allow cheaper products to undermine our beef and chicken farms?
Sir Alec regularly contributes to debates about women’s health and looks to raise awareness of endometriosis and pelvic mesh.
On February 11, he asked Ashley Dalton, the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will speak to the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists about women’s concerns over “how the concentration on women’s health has been reduced”.
What did he do in his constituency?
Sir Alec visited Yorkshire Heart Vineyard and Brewery in Nun Monkton this month. He said the company produces “top quality English wines and boosts our local economy”.
He shared news of the star-studded Christmas film ‘Tinsel Town’ shooting in his constituency shortly after it was filmed in Knaresborough.
Sir Alec also wrote to the Leeds City Council's executive member for climate, energy, environment and green spaces opposing a proposal to introduce car parking charges in Wetherby.
What else?
Sir Alec attended the NATO Joint Committee in Brussels on February 21.
He encouraged North Yorkshire businesses to represent the county at a Parliamentary event showcasing local producers who make up the rural economy.
Sir Alec also asked constituents who run a small business to contact him about how the National Insurance increase and new Employment Rights Bill have affected them.
The Stray Ferret contacted Sir Alec for comment on his work throughout February. He said:
February has been an odd month. Whilst I’ve been busy dealing with constituency issues, the new government in Westminster is now practically on part-time hours.; they’re bringing little new legislation to the Floor of the House, a further sign that ministers were simply unprepared for government.
At home in the constituency, I’ve been holding events with local businesses as they prepare for the introduction of the damaging increase in employers’ national insurance. The Office for Budget Responsibility confirmed last week that the Chancellor’s budget measures – NI rises, VAT on school fees, air passenger duty increase etc. – have resulted in an unexpected rise in inflation again. Having just got on top of the inflation crisis caused by the pandemic and then Putin’s war in Ukraine, it’s unforgivable that this latest inflation spike is self-inflicted by the Treasury.
Julian Smith
Sir Julian Smith, Conservative – Skipton and Ripon
What did he do in Parliament?
Sir Julian voted three times in Parliament this month.
He voted in favour of clauses four and six of the Crown Estate Bill [Lords] at report stage, as well as a reasoned amendment to the second reading of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
Sir Julian also made two spoken contributions in Parliament.
During a debate on AstraZeneca, Sir Julian asked:
We in this House often underestimate how many options companies such as AstraZeneca have on where to invest. The Minister is not known for taking no as an answer, so can I urge him to continue to make the case for this investment, be flexible on VFM and keep fighting for this specific deal?
What did he do in his constituency?
Sir Julian visited the 21 Engineer Regiment at Claro Barracks in Ripon this month. He had a tour of the barracks and spoke to officers about current affairs and global security issues.
He visited Outwood Primary Academy in Ripon to speak about his role as an MP, but pupils raised an unexpected issue with their MP. Sir Julian said:
During the meeting the children let me know about problems they were encountering with the use of their school field and showed me the difficulties.
The school field runs parallel to the boundary of Morrisons Supermarket on Harrogate Road, Ripon, where they told me they are having difficulties with large numbers of rabbits coming onto the school field and digging rabbit holes, so much so that their wonderful outdoor grassy space can no longer be used for playground or sporting activities as it is too dangerous with lots of holes in the grass.
Sir Julian said he went to Morrisons after his visit to the school and staff assured him the issue had been reported to the maintenance team.
He also visited to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal after the National Trust was recently given the go-ahead for its £4.6 million Studley Revealed project.
What else?
On February 11, Sir Julian bemoaned a Parliamentary dynamic on social media:
The House of Commons has just adjourned, i.e. run out of business to debate & yet the biggest issue it's dealt with in years - assisted dying - is at the same time being debated by a handful of people in a small room upstairs. Mad.
He also welcomed Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to increase defence spending by 2.5% by 2027.
“We will have to go further, but this is a very good start”, Sir Julian said.
He told the Stray Ferret:
Engaging with schools, supporting community projects, and championing local businesses remain key priorities. I look forward to continuing this work in the months ahead.
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